Art, Architecture, and Photography: Barcelona DOC
My favorite thing to talk about on tour is my global experience: studying in Spain on a Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC). As we mention on tour, DOCs are four-to-six week long study abroad opportunities offered during our Summer semesters that are led by Northeastern faculty. On Dialogue, students take two classes that will earn them credits toward their degree. In May of 2023, I participated in the Barcelona: Art, Architecture, and Photography DOC led by Professors Xavier Costa and Tony Luong. We spent five days studying in Madrid and three weeks in Barcelona, visiting museums and important architectural sites, using DSLR cameras to take photos of the things we saw.
Our time in Madrid was quick, yet filled with a packed itinerary. We stayed in a dorm building meant for students studying abroad, and we had our morning lectures in the classrooms of that building. In our lectures we learned about important Spanish artists including Velazquez and El Greco, and in the afternoons we took field trips to art museums including El Prado and La Reina Sofía, where we saw the works of the artists we learned about. We also took a day trip to Toledo, Spain where we saw more famous artworks and went on a walking tour of the city to take in its breathtaking architecture. Our days in Madrid set the tone for how we would continue our studies in Barcelona.
After the five days in Madrid, we traveled as a group to Barcelona via high-speed train. In Barcelona we stayed in a hostel, and took the subway to our classes at the institution that hosted us: Fundacio Enric Miralles. We were provided subway passes with unlimited swipes on them, so we did not have to pay for transit around the city ourselves. Our classes in Barcelona were more photography-focused. We learned the features of shooting with a DSLR camera, including aperture, f-stop, exposure, and focus. We continued our studies of artists and architects, including Antoni Gaudi and Mantaner. We visited La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, and La Hospital de Sant Pau. However when we visited these locations, we had instructions to try taking photos of different subjects and in different styles, such as portrait photography, photos showing natural elements in man-made structures, and architectural photography.
For our final projects, we had to write a 2,000-word research paper on a topic relating to the artists and architects we learned about, as well as providing a 15-photo portfolio of our best, professionally edited images. As a design major interested in branding, I wrote my paper about how Barcelona’s global reputation, or “brand”, was influenced by its hosting of the 1992 Olympic Games, citing how the city’s investment into public spaces and architectural rejuvenation put the city back into the global view following years of political and economic troubles. I included my photos of the city that best supported the talking points of my paper, leaving me with a strong, cohesive reflection of everything I had seen and learned in my time in Spain.
Studying abroad is my favorite thing I have done in my entire undergraduate career. Not only did I instantly travel-bond with the other students on my dialogue and make twenty new friends, but I got to truly immerse myself in the culture of two of Spain’s most prominent cities. Visiting Spain as part of the DOC allowed me to fully embrace living and studying there as a novel experience. I left Spain with such a deep appreciation for the country because I was able to become familiar with it through the lens of its art and culture—something that I would not be able to have experienced if I had simply visited on a vacation. That, to me, is what makes DOCs such unique opportunities at Northeastern. You get to know the place you study in through a unique, specific element of its culture that frames your entire experience of living there. I now tell all of my tour groups that if they ever are presented with an opportunity to study abroad, then to DO IT, because it can be one of the most fulfilling, rewarding things you can do in college.
FAQs
Are DOCs expensive?
You are billed for the number of course credits you take, but your scholarships can apply. You also are responsible for paying for your flights and food while on Dialogue.
When can I go on Dialogue?
As early as the summer after your first year!
Did you have any safety concerns?
The university holds safety orientations before departure where they introduce all of the safety resources they provide for students on Dialogue. I was registered with a travel security agency (Guardaworld), so the university knew where I was. I always traveled around the city in a group and secured my pockets and backpack so that pickpockets couldn’t take anything from me. Overall, no concerns.
